Painting wooden furniture is a way to give new life to an older chair or other piece of furniture. The process itself is relatively simple, requiring just a few basic tools and supplies. Carefully sand the furniture and repair any blemishes in it, then take your time applying several thin coats of primer and paint. You’ll soon have a beautifully renewed piece of furniture.

Steps

Part 1

Prepping the Furniture

1

Prepare the area for the painting project. Place drop cloths on the floor, and open any windows and doors to allow plenty of ventilation into the area. Position the furniture on the cloths. Put on a face mask and gloves before beginning the project to protect your skin and lungs.[1]

2

Remove any necessary hardware from the furniture. Most of the time, any knobs, pulls, or other hardware can simply be unscrewed. Removing the hardware before you paint allows you to evenly paint the whole wooden surface, and protects the hardware from drips of paint.[2]

Even if you decide that you want to replace the hardware with new pieces, go ahead and remove the old ones.

3

Patch any chipped, holed, or pitted surfaces with wood filler. Apply most of the wood filler to the damaged part of the wood, not to the undamaged wood. There can be some overlap, since you’ll sand it down later. Use the putty knife to scrape away excess wood filler and allow it to dry.[3]

If you're going to replacing any hardware on your furniture, fill in the old holes where the previous hardware was attached. Scape flush to the board with a putty knife and let dry.

4

Sand the surface of the furniture. If you have a large piece of furniture, save yourself time and effort by using an orbital sander. Edges, grooves, and any other nooks and crannies can be finished off with a small sanding block, or just sanded by hand.[4]

Sanding will remove any existing varnish or lacquer, making it easier for the primer coat to adhere.

Medium-duty sandpaper should be fine. Use heavy-duty sandpaper only if the existing finish seems thick.

Pay special attention to any areas where wood filler was applied. Sand enough so that the filled portions are flush with the rest of the furniture.

5

Remove any residue left after sanding the furniture surface. Wipe gently with a clean tack cloth to remove the residue and leave the clean surface. If necessary, use slightly damp cloth, then wipe the wood surface dry with another.[5]

Part 2

Priming

1

Brush or spray on a smooth coat of primer. Use a paint roller to hit wide-spaced, even areas of wood surface that aren't contoured, and a paintbrush along corners, edges, and harder-to-reach areas. Allow the primer to dry before moving on.[6]

You can use a spray primer for a faster, more even job. Spray one coat and let it dry, then do two more coats.[7]

2

Sand the primed surface after it has dried. Go over every area of primed surface with a fine-grit sandpaper. This will help your paint bond to the primer even better. Be sure to wipe away any sawdust or residue with a tack cloth after sanding.

3

Apply additional coats of primer. Apply at least one more coat of primer after the first one has dried, and a third if needed to completely cover the furniture. Lightly sand between the coats.[8]

Part 3

Painting and Finishing

1

Coat the wooden furniture in a thin layer of latex or other indoor paint. Go over even surfaces of the furniture with a foam roller. Work fairly quickly, but don't apply too much paint at once. Your furniture will look much better if you use several light coats rather than a single heavy one.

You can use a paint conditioner to slow down the drying time of the paint, allowing you to get a more even look.

2

Go back over the paint with a brush. While the paint is still wet, take a brush and run it over the surface of the furniture, using long, even strokes. Pay special attention to the places where rollers cannot apply paint — such as edges and corners. Allow the coat to dry.[9]

Use the highest-quality brush you can afford. The bristles of poor-quality brushes will come loose and get stuck in the paint, or the coverage just won't look uniform.

3

Apply a second coat of paint after at least six hours. Most people will find that a single coat of paint won't give the furniture that professional look that they're seeking. Wait for the first coat of paint to dry (overnight is best, but at least six hours), and then hit it with another coat of the same paint.[10]

4

Sand between coats of paint. After each coat has dried, go over it lightly with fine-grade sandpaper. Make sure to wipe away any dust or residue with a tack cloth. This will make sure that each coat adheres smoothly and evenly.

5

Seal the paint job on the wooden furniture (optional). Once the paint is dry, apply a clear finish to protect the paint from nicks and scratches. A water based polyurethane will work well in most cases. You can choose between products that are glossy or matte, depending on your preference.[11]

6

Add new hardware or replace the old. If you want to replace the old hardware, just fit it back into the original holes and screw into place. If you are installing new hardware, drill holes for screws where you would like the pieces to be, then set them into place.[12]

7

Let the furniture cure for a few days. Your freshly-painted furniture will need to sit for a little while after you’re finished so that everything will set. Using the furniture too early can leave scratches or dings in the finish, so let the finished piece sit two to three days first.[13]

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How can I paint a decayed area of wood on my furniture that is not very visible?

wikiHow Contributor

You will need to carve out the decayed area completely and fill this cavity with wood putty according to the directions on the wood putty container. Wood putty can be found at your local hardware store. When the wood putty is completely dry you will need to sand it until it is smooth, prime, and paint as you normally would.

Yes, but it maybe very expensive. Look online and obtain a few quotes before making a decision on the 'right' person. If it is dearly loved furniture, ensure they give you some references, and have a look at work they have finished previously.